Wednesday, May 26, 2010

PHILABURBIA, Pennsylvania, USA. "A dark night in a world that thinks it knows how to keep its secrets. But in a small office, just north of Philly, one man is still looking for the answers to many of life's persistent questions: Leigh Irwin, Investigative Reporter." (MUSIC FADE)

It had been a bit overcast yesterday morning outside the Blue Fountain in Philaburbia. I was having the normal breakfast - eggs, home fries, wheat toast, a cup of coffee, and a glass of ice water...very important, the ice water.

I was reading the Opinion section of the local paper. One of my favorite columnists, David Broder, the Dean of the Washington press corps, had written a piece. In this paper it was entitled, "Locked in an Ideological Box." I found out later that the article had originally appeared in the Sunday version of the Washington Post under the title, "The Obama Effect - Are you With Him or Against Him?" [note 1]

It had only taken me reading the first few words to spot what I thought I might find in his column:

"Most evident in the periodic eruptions of tea party support for right-wing candidates for governor or senator,..." (italics mine).

"Tea party"...I wonder what's going to happen with this whole tea party thing? It's already a movement across the country, small right now next to the two major parties. But it's growing. Is it just a blip in the historical horizon of America or will it really develop into perhaps a new ideaology, a new way of thinking? Or will it bring back some of the old ideaology, the old way of thinking? In some ways it looks alright. But in other ways it's just plain scarey.

Well, whether I like it or not, the new boss wants me to check it out. Why? I don't know for sure entirely. Maybe he knows like I am quickly learning that the roots of this very different tree run deeper than most people realize.

I wonder? Will my family and friends even read what I write? Well, the Lord knows what I'm doing. That's all that matters. Sure hope the sun comes out shining this morning. Maybe I'll check the local weather report...

"A dark night in a world that thinks it knows how to keep its secrets. But in a small office, just north of Philly, one man is still looking for the answers to many of life's persistent questions: Leigh Irwin, Investigative Reporter." (MUSIC FADE)

Hey, check out this episode of Guy Noir on You Tube. You'll hear what the first and last paragraph of this piece would sound like if Leigh Irwin were on the radio. [November 22, 2008 episode]

Note 1: When you click on the link to the Washington Post story it might ask you to "subscribe." It won't cost you anything. You just need to give a little information to have a username and password where you can get into the site basically anytime you want to.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

BENSALEM, Pennsylvania, USA. "A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets. But on the 12th floor of the Acme building, one man is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions: Guy Noir, Private Eye." (MUSIC FADE) [27 Nov 2004 script]

For those that have not had the privilege yet, these are the words that you hear on the radio when you listen to a particular segment of a program called A Prairie Home Companion, old radio at its best created by Garrison Keillor and his great crew. I listen to it on the weekend when I am out and about in our car. The program is on National Public Radio (NPR) and the station I listen to is WHYY out of Philadelphia. You should really listen to it if you don't already. It has stirred my imagination for years.

Of course I am old enough to remember when radio seemed like it was the only thing there was, along with going to the movies of course. The age of television was just beginning but vintage radio still kept our attention. My brother Warren and I would listen to shows like Dragnet,Gang Busters and Gunsmoke. You did not have a television screen in front of you. The screen was in your mind. You had to use your imagination. And oh what that screen could reveal! Garrison Keillor and his excellent crew are still very good at turning it on for me.

There was talk of him retiring this year. He is 67 now. They had some fun on the show doing segments where his "replacement" had come to take over. But the latest read on the website for the show from GK goes like this:

"We're discussing another Prairie Home cruise for 2011. I am working on a new Good Poems collection, and a memoir of 1966, a Guy Noir mystery, and have gotten a second wind on a Lake Wobegon screenplay. So life goes hurtling on." [A Note From GK About Retirement] He got some great comments back from fans about clearing up this question. You ought to read them. It will give you an idea of how much this show means to average people like you and me. [Comments 34]

So why all this about a radio show and who is Leigh Irwin anyways?

Back in the day when the family lived in or around Jamestown, New York my dad was on radio. It was the local station, WJOC [now WKSN] and he was an announcer of sorts. If I remember correctly he did short shows that had to do with local news and weather. Well, he chose as his radio name Leigh Irwin. Where did it come from? My middle name is Leigh and my brother Warren's middle name is Irwin. Dad loved his boys. He is 92 right now, by the way, and he's still kicking, down Tennessee way.

But there is something else here though, beside the fact that you shouldn't start a paragraph with the word "but." I have always wanted to write and the pen name that I've always wanted to use was Leigh Irwin. It fits. There is a little bit of me, a little bit of my brother, the love of our Dad for us, and surely a whole lot of Mom, God rest her soul. She's in Heaven now. She went Home in 2001.

So, in the future, be on the look out. Because you just might hear (or read) the following words:

"A dark night in a world that thinks it knows how to keep its secrets. But in a small office, just north of Philly, one man is still looking for the answers to many of life's persistent questions: Leigh Irwin, Investigative Reporter." (MUSIC FADE)